A judge at Croydon High Court said that West was suffering from mental health problems at the time of the incident and the court were told she was “reeking of alcohol.”
“She in essence persecuted a number of passengers on the tram, subjecting them to some disgusting racial abuse.” said prosecutor Julius Capon, who said fellow passengers had been “disgusted, shocked and horrified” by the tirade.
Racially offensive remarks in the video title ‘My Tram Experience’ included “You’re black; you ain’t British. Go back to where you came from.” The video was viewed 2.2 million times in the first 24 hours after it was uploaded to YouTube.
In defence of West, David Martin-Sperry said that West had taken anti-depressants mixed with wine and had previously admitted herself for treatment in a psychiatric institution.
West was also sentenced for a previous attack on her partner with an ornamental knife, leaving him with two puncture wounds and several slashes on his body, as well as an assault on a police officer.
After pleading guilty, former dental nurse West was ordered to ‘keep the peace and be of good behaviour for 12 months’ according to the Croydon Guardian and will be supervised under probation and be required to continue treatment from a psychiatrist.